Spike-lock.



No; 791,520. I PATENTED JUNE 6, 1905.

H. ATERMAN.

E LOOK.

.{m/MW I r k/ 6a;z ATTORNEY Patented Tune 6, 1905.

PATENT OFFICE.

HARRY S. WATERMAN, OF EAST TAWAS, MICHIGAN.

SPIKE-LOOK- SPECIFIGATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 791,520, dated June 6, 1905.

Application filed March 25, 1905. I Serial No. 252,028-

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, HAR S. WATERMAN, a citizen of the United States, residing at East Tawas, in the county of Iosco and State of Michigan, have invented certain new and useful Improvementsin Spike-Locksjand I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

This invention is a device the eifect of which is to secure a railway-spike to the flange of a rail in such a manner as to overcome the tendency of the spike to gradually work loose and pull out under the vibration of the rail when trains pass over it.

The invention consists in a device whereby the spike is locked by driving it through an opening provided in a plate beneath the rail in such a manner that the edges of the opening will firmly grip the sides of the spike when it is attempted to withdraw the spike.

The invention consists in the device illustrated in the accompanying drawings and the equivalents thereof.

Figure 1 is a transverse section of a-rail and part of a tie, showing the manner of applying the spike-lock. Fig. 2 is a perspective view, the tie being broken away. Fig. 3 is a perspective of the locking device. Fig. 4 is a modified form of the same. Fig. 5 is a modified form of the locking device with which two spikes are used and the tie-plate is omitted.

As is clearly shown in the drawings, the device consists in a metal plate 1, provided with an opening 1, through which the spike is driven. The plate at one or more sides of the opening is slitted to form a tongue or lip 1", the object of which is to lock the spike and prevent its withdrawal from the opening 1 until released by breaking or springing the lip or lips beyond their elastic limit.

The operation of the device is shown in Fig. 1, in which 2 is a tie-plate of any suitable construction placed between the rail 3 and the tie 4:. Between the tie-plate and the tie is inserted the locking-plate 1, its opening 1 registering with the opening in the tie-plate. While the spike is being driven into the tie, the tongue 1 springs downwardly, as shown in Figs. 1, 3, and 4:. The distance from the back'edge of the opening 1 to the edge of the tongue 1 is made slightly less than the thickness of the spike to produce displacement of the tongue. The resilience of the tongue 1 causes it to firmly grip the spike and hold it against being withdrawn, with the result that the plate 1 firmly holds the head of the spike down upon the top of the railflange and prevents the spike gradually working loose by vibration of the rail. 7

In Figs. 1, 2, and 3 I have illustrated the plate 1 provided with downwardlyprojecting flanges 1 to impart transverse stiffness to the plate 1 and overcome its tendency to buckle while the spike is being driven. When tie-plates of the form shown in Fig. 2 are used, the flanges 1 may be formed to fit between the inner flanges 2 of the tie-plate. While this is a convenient form and one that is preferred in some cases, yet I do not desire to confine myself to the flanged plate, since the form without flanges (illustrated in Fig. 4) or its equivalent may also be used.

It is of advantage in a spike-lock that means be provided for quickly releasing the spike when it is to be withdrawn. I provide such means by allowing the endl to project beyond the edge of the tie-plate 2, so that it may be struck with a maul or other implement, driving the end 1 toward the spike and bending the tongue 1 so that it no longer grips the face of the spike. I

The device is adapted for use with common spikes, as indicated at the left in Fig. 1, or a special spike having its back face serrated or shouldered, as at 5 in Fig. 1, may be used, the tongue 1" in this case engaging the serrations 5.

By the means above described I have produced a device which automatically locks the spike to the plate through which it is driven. The spike is firmly clamped to the flange of the rail. The life of ties is greatly increased, because vertical movement of the spike is prevented, thus avoiding breaking the fibers of the tie that are in contact with the spike. The life of the spike is increased, because being firmly clamped to the rail-flange the latter cannot work upon and wear the spike.

It is found in practical use of this improved spike-lock that it holds the spike not only by friction of the tongue against the face of the spike, but'that the tendency to resist Withdrawal of the spike is so great that the tongue actually cuts into and embeds itself in the face of the spike when it is attempted to draw the spike Without firstbending back thetongue.

having an edge formed with atongue adapted by bending to engage the face. of the spike and thereby prevent Withdrawal of the spike While said tongue is engaged With said face.

2. A spike-lock comprising a plate having an opening toreceive'a spike; anedge of said opening being provided Wlllll atongue, the distance from=the edge of the tongue to the oppositeedge of the opening being slightly less than the thickness of the spike, said tongue being adapted to be bent down slightly by the spike in driving and to react to grip the spike and prevent its Withdrawal.

3. A spike-lock comprising a plate formed with downwardly-projecting flanges and having an opening to. receive aspike; an edge of said opening being provided with a tongue, the distance from the edge of the tongue to the-opposite edge of the opening being slightly less than the thickness of the spike, said tongue being adapted to be bent down slightly by the spike in driving andtoweact to grip the spike ,and preventate-Withdrawal.

In testimony whereof I afiix my signature in presence of twowltnesses,

HARRY S; VA-TERMAN.

Witnesses:

A. A. EAsrERLv, J. R MANsFLELD. 

